Vocabulary for AP Human Geography Chapter 1: Maps and Spatial Concepts and Geospatial Technologies

Core Map Types

  • Thematic Map

    • Designed to tell a story about a specific theme or topic, like population density or climate.

    • Examples include:

    • Choropleth maps (use colors to show data)

    • Dot distribution maps (show frequency of a variable)

    • Proportional symbol maps (size of symbols indicates the value)

    • Isoline maps (connect points of equal value)

  • Reference Map

    • Used for navigation and to locate geographic features.

    • Examples include:

    • Physical maps (show landforms like mountains)

    • Political maps (show boundaries between areas)

    • Road maps

  • Local Map

    • Shows detailed information for a small area like a neighborhood or city block.

  • Global Map

    • Represents large areas of the world, useful for understanding broad patterns like trade or climate.

Measures of Distance and Direction

  • Absolute Distance

    • The exact measurement between two points (e.g., 10 miles).

    • This distance remains the same regardless of how you travel.

  • Relative Distance

    • Describes how far apart places are based on time or cost (e.g., it takes 2 hours to drive 100 miles).

  • Absolute Direction

    • Fixed directions like North, South, East, and West.

  • Relative Direction

    • Directions based on perspective or common landmarks (e.g., "go left at the school").

Location Concepts

  • Absolute Location

    • The precise spot on the Earth, often found using coordinates (e.g., 40.7128° N, 74.0060° W).

  • Relative Location

    • Where something is in relation to other things (e.g., "next to the park").

Cartographic Tools and Methods

  • Elevation

    • Height of a place above sea level, often shown with contour lines on maps.

  • Map Projection

    • Method for showing the Earth's curved surface on a flat map, which can distort sizes or shapes.

Geographic Information and Technology

  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

    • Technology that allows the layering of different types of geographic data to analyze spatial relationships.

  • Navigation Systems

    • Use satellites to find exact locations and give directions.

  • Remote Sensing

    • Collecting data about the Earth from satellites or aircraft, which helps analyze environmental changes without being on-site.

  • Landscape Analysts

    • Study how humans shape and alter their environment, and the interaction between culture and nature.

Spatial Concepts and Interaction

  • Distance Decay

    • The idea that interaction decreases as distance between places increases.

  • Time-Space Compression

    • The perception that distance feels shorter due to technology making travel and communication easier.